After Being Yanked by Clear Channel, Howard Stern Predicts His Broadcast Demise

AP ^ | Mar. 6, 2004

[FreeReign]

We're all free to voice our opinions, even in dissent. That freedom does not include the right to corrupt or undermine society at large.

If I may restate that a bit.

We're all free to express our opinions, even in dissent. That freedom does not include the right to use other people's private property for free expression and -- in this case -- that freedom does not include the right to use public property to express anything you want.

[FreeReign]

Why not put parent controls on your T.V. so you won't be "forced" to watch it when you flip the channels? Why do you need big brother to do it for you?

Why not pursue satellite radio, cable TV, books, videos and movies so that you can watch whatever porn you want. Why do you need "big public" to do it for you?

[VRWC_minion]

Who makes up these rules and draws the lines? If you agree that it is the people....then let the ratings decide

For smut and porn its otherwise local law that controls. However, we ceded control of the airways to federal control and allowed them to regulate that by agreement.

Our alternative under the constitutution is to revert control back to the states. Let each state control by zoning who gets to broadcast on what signal and we solve the constitutional issues your raise regarding free speech. However you forget a few small details.

One detail is the broadcasts will be pure chaos while one broadcaster in one state fights with others in the neighboring states. And if the state doesn't regulate it then the chaos extends within the borders. However, that isn't the big problem for your version of free speech.

The big problem is that Howard Stern would be banned under each town/state's local laws. If it were not for the protection Stern has under the FCC his show would have been attacked by obscenity charges in so many local markets he would have been out of business long ago. Stern's show existed because of the federal control.

[sharktrager]

And what will you do when they say your speech is about nothing other than inciting hate and discrimination?

[Feiny]

Last straw? The answer is really simple. If you don't like him, don't listen. Don't watch.

I am done with this thread. Go on beieving that something wonderful is happening. I'll see you on a future thread lamenting the demise of a program you enjoy.

[Dane]

And what will you do when they say your speech is about nothing other than inciting hate and discrimination?

It doesn't, first of all. Second the demos have been saying that for 20 years now and they have lost control of Congress and many state legislatures in that time.

[Dane]

Last straw? The answer is really simple. If you don't like him, don't listen. Don't watch

Yep it seems that Janet Jackson's stunt was the last straw to an outraged electorate.

Like I said Howard is part of the fallout, but no one pushed Howard into that fallout, he went running into it as fast as he could.

[Pharmboy]

Oh please...who cares. Let him go on cable and spew his filth. This is the most self-obsessed guy in the universe.

And Howard--one more thing: lesbian dial-a-date was over ten years ago.

[sharktrager]

It doesn't in your opinion. However, they may disagree, just as they would disagree with your opinion on Howard.

Like it or not, you have to be very careful when it comes to any restrictions on speech. The FCC has specific guidelines, and those words are not used. The rest is vague and applied inconsistently. The show hasn't changed, and the rules haven't changed, but the enforcement has.

[VOA]

How many installments of this going out of business sale may we expect?

This almost has the marks of the "endless death tour" of The Judss when
momma Naomi had some sort of incurable disease...
and an amazing cure...
say Hallelujah!

[Salo]

I guess what shocks me is how many people who call themselves conservatives want the government - the federal government, no less - to save them from Howard Stern. We have a free market that is perfectly capable of dealing with the Howard Sterns of the world - let it work. If people are offended by his antics, they will stop listening to him and his show will disappear. If he thrives, well, the free market has spoken.

Does it strike you as ironic that conservatives as a group claim to loath letting the government take away personal freedoms, and are the first to complain about unelected judges legislating from the bench and that there are those among us - on *free republic* - who would be perfectly happy to allow bureaucrats in the FCC tell us what is obscene? Use the off button - complain to his sponsors or whoever syndicates him, but don't let the government do this for you: if the government can do this for you, it will eventually do it *to* you.

[Dane]

Use the off button - complain to his sponsors or whoever syndicates him, but don't let the government do this for you: if the government can do this for you, it will eventually do it *to* you

Actually people did complain. And since Howard is on public airwaves, the most logical place to complain is to the FCC.

This is just my opinion, but I really don't see Howard Stern as supermartyr for the cause of free speech.

[Ol' Sparky]

Yes, you probably would want pornography on broadcast TV...

Broadcast stations can be picked up by anyone, including children. And, just like it is the proper function of government to stop a pornographic billboard on an interstate, it is a proper function of government to stop indecency over the public airwaves.

[Ol' Sparky]

No, it IS the job of the government to protect kids from hearing indecency on the public airwaves. Parents can't always control everything a child will be exposed and some children don't have parents that are present or care. Children shouldn't suffer because liberals and libertarians won't to allow anything -- even porn movies -- on the public airwaves.

Limited government doesn't mean no government. Regulating indecency is a proper function of government, one that has existed throughout virtually the entire history of broadcasting.

[PJ-Comix]

That headline made my day

So you will be similarly gleeful when Rush is yanked down the road?

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Actually, the day before he was taken off the air, he said he could no longer support Bush. It was the a combo of the Senate hearings into Janets boob.....and then the marriage protection amendment that turned him. He has been very anti-Bush lately. He went on the same rants against Clinton when the FCC fined him

Okay. Got it. I missed that.

Still, it doesn't seem at all believable that CC canned him just for that. Personally, I think that Stern is manufacturing all this simply to get out of his contract and concentrate on his new ABC show.

[FreeReign]

I guess what shocks me is how many people who call themselves conservatives want the government - the federal government, no less - to save them from Howard Stern.

I know what suprises me is how many people who call themselves conservative want their porn supplied by public means.

We have a free market that is perfectly capable of dealing with the Howard Sterns of the world - let it work. If people are offended by his antics, they will stop listening to him and his show will disappear. If he thrives, well, the free market has spoken.

The public airwaves are not owned by Stern and are not for him to sell at his sole discretion. Let Stern take his pornography talents to a private media that is free market.

[Salo]

I don't care for his show, either - so I don't listen to it, but I used to occasionally. It's the same crap it has always been. He is a good case for princilpled conservatism: do you allow the government to make moral decisions for you, or do you make your own decisons? If you are capable of making your own decisions, you do not need the government to do this. As I said, the free market is perfectly capable of handling the Howard Sterns of the world.

This is just my opinion, but I really don't see Howard Stern as supermartyr for the cause of free speech.

[FreeReign]

So you will be similarly gleeful when Rush is yanked down the road?

Pornography and obscenity, expression has been yanked from public property since the time that the founding fathers wrote the Constitution.

Rush and his political speech have been on the air for 15 years or so, unabated.

[PJ-Comix]

Believe me, some future LIBERAL FCC will rule that Rush engages in "obscene Hate Speech" and yank him from the air. It is the fondest dream of liberals and they will use any excuse no matter how lame to get Rush off the airwaves. The door has already been opened with the persecution of Howard.